Getting XP Pro to see 2k Pro in a home network

[Alan]

I have a D-Link router connected to a cable modem for internet access and I run 2k Pro on my desktop. I have just bought a laptop with XP Pro and am connecting to the router with a wireless access point. Internet access and connections are just peachy but I can't see the local network on either machine. I have file sharing in place, am using the same workgroup name but neither can see the other. As I understand it, the router is the problem because the hardware firewall closes all the ports and I think this is why I have no network connections.

If this is indeed the problem, which ports should be open and, to lesser extent, how do I open them?

Any pointers would be appreciated.

[ikonia]

probably because it is routing through the router, and not direct from machine a --> b

eg: a ---> router ---> b

the firewall / access controls on the router maybe blocking this sort of internal comms,

[Moby-Dick]

have you enabled NETBIOS over TCP/IP on both the connections ?

you its also unlikely that you have any form of name resolution going on.
can you ping either of the machines from the other by name and IP ?

[Alan]

I don't appear to have the facility to add netbios to either of them and no, they couldn't ping each other.

This gave me the clue which led me to Norton Internet Security.I set the personal firewall to accept their IP numbers as trusted and it started working.

Thanks for your comments.